ArchxClimate presents reviews and reports which examine how cultural institutions and architectural venues demonstrate the vital role of architecture in response to the climate crisis.
Who
Editor: Ben Couture
Ben is a designer, maker & producer with experience working across exhibition design, furniture-making and sustainable architecture. He teaches Interior Architecture at Northumbria University.
Contributor: Tarek Ahmed
Tarek is an educator and researcher specialising in interdisciplinary themes, including architecture, urbanism, computational design, sustainability, and energy efficiency.
Research Assistant and Editor: Daisy Couture
Daisy is a final year student at University of York progressing towards an MA in Journalism, with a growing list of articles and editorial features online and in printed press.
Exhibition research
ArchxClimate looks at a broad range of exhibition projects from across Europe, which are designed to engage visitors with architecture and surrounding critical themes, using first-hand observation and stakeholder interviews.
As highlighted by RIBA (Goals in Practice), architecture and the built environment plays a key role in implementing some of the UN Sustainability Development Goals:
The impact of an architect’s work extends beyond the physical structures he or she designs – architects are uniquely placed to influence how places are shaped, how they function and who they engage in the process. They have a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to ensure that this influence is positive.
Physical exhibitions offer an effective and valid vehicle for bringing architecture to audiences, even where the methods of doing so are varied. The cross-section of visitors reached through these venues allow for relevant messages to be spread wider than publications or CPDs alone. As conversations about architecture become increasingly focussed on sustainability and climate, there will be benefits in both educating wider audiences, whilst providing new opportunities for the public to engage with architectural professionals and policy makers.
ArchxClimate considers how architectural exhibitions hold the potential for broadcasting, educating and engaging on these subjects – highlighting how the quality of design, and the diversity of the programmes can better facilitate meaningful impact.